On December 13, 2024, a formal agreement of cooperation between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was reached to remove Downs’ Dam with the objectives of
restoring natural systems and improving water quality in the Myakka River through a no cost agreement between the two parties.
restoring natural systems and improving water quality in the Myakka River through a no cost agreement between the two parties.
This low-head ~90 ft. long and 4 ft. tall limestone dam structure, privately constructed in 1942 to hold back freshwater in the dry season for cattle operations, was removed in May 2025, just before the rainy season commenced. Work to fully restore the riverbank will continue.
© 2025 Miri Hardy - All rights reserved